Packaging machine



June 6, 1967 G. MURRAY 3,323,278

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 4., 1964 3 h ts-S eet 2 F I613 r1 INVENTOR. 6/; Beer Mame/1x June 6, 1967 G. MURRAY PACKAGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 4, 1964 SOLENOI 0 0 2 N 0 Z 8 w w w p u m m 4 m m m P T a 4 e 0 r lT m fl 2 INVENTOR. GILBERT/MURRAY,

SOLE/VOID United States Patent Ofilice 3,323,278 Patented June 6, 1967 3,323,273 PACKAGING MACHINE Gilbert Murray, 129 Foster Terrace, Ridgewood, NJ. 0745i) Filed Aug. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 387,349 7 Claims. (Cl. 53-119) My invention relates to machinery for separately packaging single newspapers.

News dealers receive newspapers in the form of tied bundles containing a relatively lar e number of newspapers. Those dealers who have to deliver individual newspapers to different customers at different locations must first separate the newspapers in the bundle and then separately roll each newspaper into the familiar cylinderlike shape prior to delivery. This rolling operation consumes considerable time and effort.

In my copending patent application S.N. 195,564, filed May 17, 1962, now US. Patent 3,128,583, I disclosed a new type of packaging machine in which individual newspapers could first be rolled automatically into the desired shape and thereafter could be automatically ejected from the machine, thus substantially reducing the time required for the rolling operation and sharply reducing labor costs. While this machine functioned well for news papers of different sizes and thicknesses, I discovered that newspapers which were extremely thin would occasionally fail to trip a mechanical switch which when closed initiated the packaging operation. Moreover, this machine was relatively expensive to manufacture and to repair. In addition under certain conditions, the tying operation would be less satisfactory where very thin newspapers were to be packaged. By making certain modifications, as described in detail below, I have been able to construct a newspaper packaging machine which can automatically accommodate extremely thin as well as extremely thick newspapers without adjustment and yet can be manufactured and serviced inexpensively.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a new and improved packaging machine of the character indicated.

Another object is to provide new and improved machinery for automatically packaging single newspapers having thicknesses which range from extremely thick to extremely thin wherein a photoelectric switch is employed that will always be actuated properly regardless of paper thickness.

Still another object is to provide new and improved machinery for automatically rolling single newspapers wherein the tying operation is carried out properly and efliciently at all times.

These and other objects of my invention will either be explained or will become apparent hereinafter.

In my invention, I provide a horizontally extending wrapping spindle. Two separated prongs which extend from one side of the plate along a portion thereof and which are parallel to the spindle are secured to the spindle. The spindle and prongs are rotatable about the spindle axis. Driving means, actuated and deactuated by photoelectric means, rotate said spindle through a predetermined number of revolutions. The photoelectric means produces a light beam which extends vertically downward in a position adjacent the prongs.

A twine tying mechanism provides a vertically suspended length of twine fed from a spool and extending transversely of, and offset from, the prongs. Rolled paper retaining means, under the control of the tying mechanism, aligned with but spaced apart from the prongs, act in a manner to be described.

In feeding newspapers to the machine, the front edge of a fiat newspaper is passed between the prongs and at the same time pushes the center portion of the length of twine around the newspaper. As this front edge of the newspaper approaches the prongs, it moves into the path of the light beam and interrupts same. As a result, the driving means is actuated, the spindle rotates through the desired revolutions, and the newspaper is wound about the prongs in the form of a cylinder.

The tying mechanism is actuated as the spindle completes the proper number of revolutions. This mechanism then ties a knot in the twine, tightens the knot so that the length of twine is tightly tied about the newspaper, and then severs the tied twine from the spool. However, when newspapers vary in the number of pages, during rolling the outer edge of the rolled cylinder will assume different end positions. When the cylinder has its edge in certain of these end positions, the tying operation will sometimes be unsatisfactory. More particularly, depending upon the number of pages in the newspaper, the degree of penetration of the newspaper into the prongs and the speed of feed, a needle in the tying mechanism can strike this outer edge during tying and thus fail to tie properly. However, when the tying mechanism is actuated, the retaining means almost completely encircles the paper and holds same in proper position for satisfactory tying, by positioning the outer edge out of the: path of the needle.

An ejector is mounted in the wrapping spindle. Ejection control means, actuated after the twine is severed, causes the ejector to push the rolled and tied newspaper away from the prongs into a suitable receptacle.

An illustrative embodiment of my invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partially cut away side view of a packaging machine in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in section taken along the lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially cut away end elevation of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially cut away plan view of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a detail view illustrating the operation of the paper retaining means; and

FIG. 6 i a circuit diagram of the machine shown in the preceding figures.

Referring now to the drawings, I provide a vertically inclined plate 10 having a horizontal lower edge 12.

A first guide member 24 is secured to the top of shoulder 20 While a second guide member 26 is secured to the plate 10 adjacent shoulder 20. Both members 24 and 26 are curved and extend inward to the center of the plate as well as extending downward toward the lower edge 12.

A hollow wrapping spindle 28 extends horizontally along plate 10 and parallel to the lower edge 12. A chuck having two spaced apart horizontal prongs 30 which are parallel to the axis of wrapping spindle 28 is secured to spindle 28. Spindle 28 and prongs 30 are rotatable about the axis of spindle 28, this axis defining an axis of symmetry for prongs 30. An ejector rod .32 is mounted in the spindle; one end of this rod 32 terminates in a cap 34. (This rod, during periods when the ejection operation does not occur, is held in the position shown in the drawings through the action of compression spring 36.) The other end of rod 32 terminates in a plate 37. A gear 29 is rigidly secured to spindle 28 for rotating same. Gear 29 is mounted on hearing 116.

Two spring loaded curved or straight clamps 38 (FIGS. 1-4) press about a major portion of the periphery of prongs 30.

Twine 40 from a cone of twine 42 passes through a curved twine guide arm 44 and drops vertically past the clamps 38 into a bobbin which forms a portion of twine knottin-g and cutting apparatus 48. The cone 42, guide arm 44 and apparatus 48, together constitute a twine tying mechanism, the function of which will be described hereinafter. (Further details on this mechanism, which is of well known type, can be found in my aforementioned copending application.)

An electric lamp 268 is secured to the top of the machine adjacent clamps 38 and produces a light beam which passes vertically downward past clamps 38 through a pin hole at the top of hollow conduit 39 to impinge upon photoelectric cell 202 positioned at the bottom of conduit 39. Cell 2112 is electrically connected to the coil 286 of a relay. Coil 286 controls the movement of two switch arms 288 and 210 which in turn electrically control the operation of solenoid 216 as explained hereinafter. This solenoid 216, when energized, causes clutch 56 to mechanically connect gear 58 to gear 80 so that these gears will rotate together. Gear '58 is rigidly attached to shaft 60. When solenoid 216- is deenergized, these gears rotate together for a short interval until the faces of the clutch separate and gears 58 and 88 are disengaged. Gear 58 is connected by an endless chain 62 to gear 180 rigidly secured to shaft 102. A second gear 104 rigidly secured to shaft 182 is connected by a second endless chain 186 to gear 29 on spindle 28.

Electrical plug 66 is connected to a 110 volt 6 cycles per second power line. Plug 66 carries two leads 212 and 214. Lead 214 is connected directly to one side of lamp 200, to the switch arm 218 and to one side of photocell 282. In addition, lead 214 is connected directly to one side of motor 68 and to solenoid 216. Lead 212 is connected directly to the other side of lamp 280 through on-oif switch 70' to the other side of motor 68, to the other side of photocell 208 and to switch arm 208.

A V belt drive 72 connects the shaft of motor 68 to a pulley 31 on another shaft 74. A gear 76 mounted on shaft 74 and rotatable therewith engages gear 78 which in turn engages gear 80. Gear 88 rotates freely about shaft 60. A second clutch 82 is interposed between gear 78 and the twine knotting and cutting apparatus 48. When clutch 82 is engaged, the rotation of gear 78 is transmitted through shaft 79 to apparatus 48. When clutch 8.2 is disengaged, gear 78 and apparatus 48 are mechanically disconnected.

Bearing 116 which is spring loaded is connected through arm 108 to cylinder 112 which is freely rotatable about shaft 102. In addition, bearing 116 is rigidly attached to clamps 38. A tension spring arrangement 114 pushes bearing 116 and clamps 38 toward the downward extending lip 118 of edge 12 of plate 10.

The machine operates in the following manner. When the plug 66 is connected to the power line, the lamp 200 is lit. When switch 70' is turned on, motor 68 is energized and shaft 74 and gears 76, 78 and 80 rotate continuously. As long as the light from lamp 200 strikes cell 202, coil 206 is energized, switch 52 is open, and clutches 56 and 82 are disengaged. As a result, no other mechanical motions take place until the switch 52 is closed.

An operator then places a newspaper on plate and pushes downward until the forward edge of the newspaper passes between the two prongs At this point, a portion of the vertical length of twine 40 makes loose peripheral contact with the newspaper. At about the same time, however, the newspaper interrupts the light beam. Cell 2112 is then dark. Due to the photoelectric effect, cell 282 ceases to produce current, consequently, coil 206 is deenergized, and power is supplied both to solenoid 54 and to one side of switch 52. Solenoid 54 is then energized, closing switch 52. Solenoid 216 is thenenergized and pulls a knife out of contact with a spiral face of clutch 56. Clutch 56 then engages gears 58 and 80.

As a result, shaft 60 rotates through one complete revolution. At the same time gear 58 turns chain 62 to turn gear 188 which rotates shaft 102. Shaft 102 turns gear 104 which turns chain 106 to rotate gear 29. The ratios are such that gear 29 rotates through three revolutions.

The prongs 30 consequently rotate through three revolutions and the newspaper is rolled into a cylinder.

The clamps 38 press upon the newspaper during the rolling operation and insure that the newspaper is formed into a tight roll.

As shaft 60 complete one revolution a cam 98' rigidly attached to this shaft raises a clutch starting lever 92 and engages clutch 82. Clutch 82 then clamps gear 78 to shaft 79, and shaft 79 begins to rotate. An eccentric 94 shifts a generally horizontal lever to the left and causes the twine guide arm 44 to pivot until the tip of this arm 44 rests within a bobbin. At this point, a length of twine is wrapped about the periphery of the rolled newspaper as a loose loop. Apparatus 48 then tightens the loop, ties a knot in the loop, and severs the loop from the rest of the twine.

Further rotation of shaft 79 then causes cam 114 to depress a cam follower lever 116'. This lever 116 then moves a knife out of contact with the spiral face of another clutch 118. Clutch 118 then causes gear 101 to drive bevel gear 128. A second bevel gear 122, keyed to shaft 124, engages gear 128 and shaft 124 rotates.

An eccentric or crank 126 at the end of shaft 124 moves rod 128 secured to one end of a curved member 130, causing member 130 to pivot about a point intermediate its ends and to push ejector rod 32 and button 37 against the rolled and tied newspaper, thus ejecting this newspaper off of the prongs 38. Slight further rotation of shaft 124 then returns member 128 to its original position and spring 36 returns the ejector rod to its original position.

As the newspaper is dropped, cam 114 raises follower lever 116 and clutch 118 is disengaged. In addition, the light beam again strikes cell 282, coil 284 is energized, solenoid 54 is deenergized and switch 52 is opened. The cycle can then be repeated with other newspapers as required. 7

It will be noted that gear 29 is mounted in bearing 116. Bearing 116 and clamps 38 are secured by arms 108 to cylinder 112. In the absence of any newspaper in prongs 30, the tension provided by arrangement 114 maintains a minimum separation between bearing 116 and lip 118. When a newspaper is inserted between prongs 30, this newspaper bears against this lip. The thickness of the rolled newspaper exceeds the minimum clearance, and since the lip cannot move, both bearings 116 and clamps 38 are caused to move horizontally away from the lip, thereby automatically adjusting the spacing between prongs 30 and the lip 118. Since there is a fixed spacing at all times between lip 118 and the tying mechanism the spacing between prongs 30 and mechanism 48 is automatically adjusted in the same manner.

The base of guide arm 44 is pivotally secured to one end of an arm 222. The other end of arm 222 is secured to one end of a curved wire-like element 224 which takes the form of a partially completed circle (extending, for example, for about 270 degrees). Element 224 extends completely through a curved hollow tube 226 and is slidable therein. Tube 226 is held rigidly in place by a support 228 extending vertically downward from tube 126 to the base of the machine.

Before a newspaper is fed between prongs 30, guide arm 44 and element 224 are both in the position shown in solid line in FIG. 5. Consequently, when a newspaper is fed to the prongs, the paper passes freely past element 224. When the rolling operation begins and guide arm 44 is lowered (as shown in phantom in FIG. 5), element 224 is advanced (also as shown in phantom in FIG. 5) to a position at which element 224 almost completely encircles the newspaper and retains same in proper position.

In the absence of element 224, when the newspaper is extremely thin, the paper, during rolling, can move sideways with respect to the prongs and fall out of the machine before being completely rolled and tied. Element 224 prevents this undesired action.

I claim:

1. A packaging machine for rolling and tying individ ual newspapers comprising:

(a) a horizontal cylindrical wrapping spindle rotatable about its own axis, one end of said spindle carrying a pair of prongs extending in the same direction as said spindle and equidistantly spaced about the periphery thereof, said prongs being secured to said end and being rotatable with said spindle, said prongs being adapted to receive a flat newspaper therebetween for rolling;

(b) driving means coupled to said spindle, said driving means when actuated causing said spindle to be rotated through a predetermined number of revolutions whereby when a newpaper is placed between said prongs the newspaper is rolled, said driving means when deactuated being unable to cause rotation of said spindle;

(C) a lamp positioned adjacent said prongs for producing a light beam, said lamp being disposed on one side of said spindle and directing said beam past said spindle in a direction perpendicular thereto;

(d) photoelectric means spaced apart from said lamp and disposed on the oposite side of said spindle in the path of said beam to produce a first electrical signal in the presence of said beam and to produce a second electrical signal in the absence of said beam, said beam impinging upon said photoelectric means when no newspaper is positioned in said prongs, whereby said first signal is produced, said beam being prevented from impinging upon said photoelectric means during the presence of a newspaper in said prongs whereby said second signal is produced; and

(e) electrically powered means coupled to said driving means and responsive to the signals produced by said photoelectric means to actuate said driving means to roll said newspaper when said second signal is produced and to deactuate said driving means when said first signal is produced.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said photoelectric means includes a photoelectric cell and a relay in circuit with said cell.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said relay has a coil connected in series with said cell and contacts which when said relay is energized open to prevent electrical power from being supplied to a powered means and which when said relay is deenergized close to supply power to energize said powered means to actuate said driving means.

4, A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein when said beam impinges upon said cell, a current flows through said coil to energize said relay, and when said beam is prefit) vented from impinging upon said cell substantially no current flows through said coil and said relay is deenergized.

5. A packaging machine for rolling and tying individual newspapers comprising:

(a) a horizontal cylindrical wrapping spindle rotatable about its own axis, one end of said spindle carrying a pair of prongs extending in the same direction as said spindle and equidistantly spaced about the periphery thereof, said prongs being secured to said end and being rotatable with said spindle, said prongs being adapted to receive a flat newspaper therebetween for rolling, said prongs being encircled by a pair of spring loaded clamps;

(b) driving means coupled to said spindle, said driv ing means when actuated causing said spindle to be rotated through a predetermined number of revolutions whereby when a newspaper is placed between said prongs, the newspaper is rolled, said driving means, when deactuated being unable to cause rotation of said spindle;

(c) switch means positioned adjacent said prongs and responsive to the presence of said newspaper between said prongs to actuate said driving means and cause said newspaper to be rolled, said switch means being responsive to the absence of said newspaper from said prongs to deactuate said driving means; and

(d) newspaper retaining means positioned adjacent said spindle in the path of said newspaper to hold said newspaper in position for satisfactory tying.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein said retaining means has a curved arm which when the newspaper is being rolled almost completely encircles the free end of the newspaper to hold same in proper position said arm being otherwise withdrawn whereby the free end of said newspaper is not constrained and can be moved freely.

'7. A machine as set forth in claim 6 further including a linkage for imparting movement to said arm along a circular path transverse to the axis of said spindle, said linkage being moved during rolling to a position at which said arm almost completely encircles the newspaper being rolled and being otherwise in a position at which said arm is withdrawn from the encircling position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,655,777 10/1953 Hagen 5376 X 3,128,583 4/1964 Murray 53-119 TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PACKAGING MACHINE FOR ROLLING AND TYING INDIVIDUAL NEWSPAPERS COMPRISING: (A) A HORIZONTAL CYLINDRICAL WRAPPING SPINDLE ROTATABLE ABOUT ITS OWN AXIS, ONE END OF SAID SPINDLE CARRYING A PAIR OF PRONGS EXTENDING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS SAID SPINDLE AND EQUIDISTANTLY SPACED ABOUT THE PERIPHERY THEREOF, SAID PRONGS BEING SECURED TO SAID END AND BEING ROTATABLE WITH SAID SPINDLE, SAID PRONGS BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A FLAT NEWSPAPER THEREBETWEEN FOR ROLLING; (B) DRIVING MEANS COUPLED TO SAID SPINDLE, SAID DRIVING MEANS WHEN ACTUATED CAUSING SAID SPINDLE TO BEROTATED THROUGH A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF REVOLUTIONS WHEREBY WHEN A NEWSPAPER IS PLACED BETWEEN SAID PRONGS THE NEWSPAPER IS ROLLED, SAID DRIVING MEANS WHEN DEACTUATED BEING UNABLE TO CAUSE ROTATION OF SAID SPINDLE; (C) A LAMP POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID PRONGS FOR PRODUCING A LIGHT BEAM, SAID LAMP BEING DISPOSED ON ONE SIDE OF SAID SPINDLE AND DIRECTING SAID BEAM PAST SAID SPINDLE IN A DIRECTION PERPENDICULAR THERETO; (D) PHOTOELECTRIC MEANS SPACED APART FROM SAID LAMP AND DISPOSED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID SPINDLE IN THE PATH OF SAID BEAM TO PRODUCE A FIRST ELECTRICAL SIGNAL IN THE PRESENCE OF SAID BEAM AND TO PRODUCE A SECOND ELECTRICAL SIGNAL IN THE ABSENCE OF SAID BEAM SAID BEAM IMPINGING UPON SAID PHOTOELECTRIC MEANS WHEN NO NEWSPAPER IS POSITIONED IN SAID PRONGS, WHEREBY SAID FIRST SIGNAL IS PRODUCED, SAID BEAM BEING PREVENTED FROM IMPINGING UPON SAID PHOTOELECTRIC MEANS DURING THE PRESENCE OF A NEWSPAPER IN SAID PRONGS WHEREBY SAID SECOND SIGNAL IS PRODUCED; AND (E) ELECTRICALLY POWERED MEANS COUPLED TO SAID DRIVING MEANS AND RESPONSIVE TO THE SIGNALS PRODUCED BY SAID PHOTOELECTRIC MEANS TO ACTUATE SAID DRIVING MEANS TO ROLL SAID NEWSPAPER WHEN SAID SECOND SIGNAL IS PRODUCED AND TO DEACTUATE SAID DRIVING MEANS WHEN SAID FIRST SIGNAL IS PRODUCED. 